Beet-puller.



No. 630,535. Patent ed Aug. 8, I899. some.

BEET PULLEB.

(Application filed Nov. 4, 1898.}

(N0 Model.)

' 4 [ya/we G055 e,

, :1 Home 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC GOBLE, OF CHINO, CALIFORNIA.

BEET-PU LLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,535, dated August 8, 1899.

Application filed November 4,1898. Serial No. 695,479. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC GOBLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chino, San Bernardino county, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Pullers; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with a claim particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to harrows and diggers, and more especially to that class thereof known as stalk-pullers operated by hand; and the object of the same is to produce an improved beet-puller, which consists of an attachment to the ordinary knife now used for topping beets.

To this end the invention consists, essentially, in the provision of a hook member comprising either one spur or a plurality of spurs projecting substantially at right angles to and from the cutting edge of a beet-topping knife. It also embraces certain modifications, all as hereinafter more fully described and claimed and as illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective View of the beetpuller in its simplest form. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing two spurs one above the other. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a spur at each side of a two-edged knife. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a knife, of sheet'metal, adapted to be bent on the dotted line, so as to form two spurs standing side by side. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of two spurs side by, side, formed of a separate piece surrounding the outer end of the knife-blade. Fig. 6 is a similar view, except that the separate piece is attached to one side of the knife-blade. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing how two devices of the form shown in Fig. lean be cut from a single blank with no loss of material.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter H designates a handle, and K is a knife having a cutting edge C and a reduced stem S entering the lower end of the handle, which latter is preferably prevented from splitting by a ferrule F. Thus far the beet-chopper consists of nothing but an ordinary knife sharpened at one of its lateral edges, though in Fig. 3 it is shown as sharpened at both edges.

' Coming now to the present invention, the numeral 1 designates a hook member, consisting here of a single spur or spike which is preferably slightly curved, as shown at 2, on its outer edge and also preferably slightly curved, as shown at 3, on its inner edge. In Fig. 1 this spur isshown as stamped from the same piece of metal (preferably steel) of which the knife is composed, and it will be noted that it projects laterally at or at about right angles to the length of said knife, and its curved edges are struck on arcs concentric or approximately concentric with the motion of the outer end of the knife when held in the hand of an operator. In Fig. 2 this member consists of two of said spurs 1 and 10, standing one above the other along the cutting edge 0.

In Fig. 3 the spurs l and 21 constitute the 'hook member, preferably composed of a single piece of material shaped considerably like a pick and extending to opposite sides of the knife K, which has two cutting edges 0 and O. In Fig.4 the knife K is made of a piece of sheet-steel stamped about as shown and adapted to be bent on the dotted line 4, so as to bring the spurs 1 and 31 alongside of each other and form the complete hook member.

In Fig. 5 the hook member comprises spurs 41, formed at the extremities of a U-shaped piece of metal 42, which here extends completely around the outer end of the knife K. In Fig. 6 the spurs 51 are also formed at the extremities of a single piece of metal; but the latter is bent, as at 52, so that its parts 53 lie upon each other, and thus the hook member is attached to one side of the knife K instead of extending around the same at its outer end.

In all cases except where the hook member is formed integral with the knife it may be attached thereto in any suitable manner, as by brazing, riveting, bolting, or otherwise, the particular form of attachment constituting no part of the present invention, as will be clear.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated how two of the simpler forms (shown in Fig. 1) may be stamped from a single blank with practically no loss of material. It will be understood that after the stamping the body of the knife is drawn out into a shank S, as seen in Fig.

1, and properly inserted in and secured to the handle, or, if preferred, this shank of theknife may itself constitute the handle. It is only essential that the hook shall project at substantially right angles to and from the extremity of the cutting edge of the beet-topping knife.

In operation the user grasps the tool by its handle, with the cutting edge downward. IIe strikes the hook (which is about one inch long) forcibly through the top of the beet and into its crown. He then draws toward him, which pulls the beet from the ground. He then grasps the body of the beet with his left hand and disengages it from the hook member. He then with a quick stroke of the knife cuts the top from the beet, and finally he throws the body of the beet into the receptacle therefor. It will be obvious that by making the tool of proper length any person can use it without necessarily stooping,and hence strain on the muscles and back is avoided as well as soiling the clothing, &e., and a great saving in time and labor results. If the hook member is made detachable, it will probably facilitate the sharpening of the cutting edge; but this is not essential, as the cutting edge of the device (shown in Fig. 1) can be readily sharpened on any grindstone. The edges of the hook member are dull, otherwise the drawing toward the operator would rip or cut the hook through the body of the beet; but its point is quite sharp, so that it can be readily and quickly struck into the beet with alight blow.

The exact sizes, shapes, proportions, and materials of parts are not essential, and considerable change in and addition to my invention maybe made without departing from the principle thereof.

That is claimed as new is- 1. In a beet-puller, the combination with a knife having a substantially straight sharpened edge; of a hook projecting at substantially right angles to the length of the knifeedge and sharpened only at its point, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a beet-puller, the combination with a knife sharpened along its edge; of a hook comprising a plurality of spurs projecting at approximately right angles to the length of and beyond said cutting edge, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a beet-puller, the combination with a knife sharpened along its edge; of a hook whose body is removably attached to the extremity of said knife and whose point projects at approximately right angles from and beyond the cutting edge thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

ei. In a beet-puller, the combination with a knife sharpened along one edge; of a hook member consistingof a U-shaped part whose prongs are pointed and project beyond and approximately at right angles to the cutting edge of the knife, and whose body surrounds said knife at its outer extremity and is attached thereto, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature on this the 13th day of October, A. I). 1898.

ISAAC GOBLE. lVitnesses:

I'Iucn PERCY, GEORGE MARION SIIAFFER. 

